Dental Implants Cheaper Than Dentures? Colorado Springs Dentists Explain How! PART 1

In this three-part article series, experienced dentists explain how the once-off cost of dental implants works out to be less expensive than the accrued cost of wearing dentures for many years.

Anyone who has looked into the cost of teeth replacement will know that dental implants lie at the higher end of the cost spectrum, while dentures would seem to be the least expensive. What few Colorado Springs residents could ever imagine is that, in the long term, dentures could very well end up costing patients more… much more, not only financially, but in terms of quality of life too!In this three-part article series, Colorado Springs dentists will explain to us how dental implants differ from traditional removable dentures in their ability to provide patients with a new set of teeth and just how it is the latter could readily work out to be more expensive than implants in the long run.

Aren’t Dental Implants Ridiculously Expensive?

One of the most damaging misconceptions there are about dental implants is that they are prohibitively expensive and that only the more affluent of patients can afford them. As such, the remaining majority of those who has been diagnosed with a failing or terminal dentition, usually as a result of gum disease, would appear to be doomed to a life of wearing removable dentures, which are the cheaper alternative.

 “The truth of the matter is that with a little research and investigation, you’ll find that the cost of implants makes perfect sense and that, given what you’re getting for your dollar, it’s totally worth it. The money you spend on replacing a set of failing, decayed teeth with implants is a very important investment, not only in your oral health and general health, but also in your quality of life. Unfortunately, too many patients discover just how much they’ve short-changed themselves after they’ve had dentures fitted.” explains a Colorado Springs dental implant surgeon. 

Is Cost Really the Most Important Consideration?

In addition to the misconception that dental implants are prohibitively expensive, many Colorado Springs residents erroneously prioritize cost over any other consideration and would sooner live with uncomfortable teeth than spend the money on a more sophisticated teeth replacement solution. The combination of these two trends has landed tens of thousands of Americans in a very difficult and expensive situation!“You cannot possibly understand how miserable your life can become until you’ve lost all of your natural teeth and are forced to live with the daily challenges of wearing dentures,” says one Colorado Springs dentist. “Few patients can, which is why they choose dentures over the far more modern teeth replacement technologies and techniques we offer. They then, unfortunately, live to regret this pivotal decision.”

What we’re going to do in this four-part article series is first examine the principle differences (and cost differences) between dental implants and removable dentures. In doing so, we shall explain how the costs involved in having dentures fitted can end up being quite exorbitant over the years. We shall then do the same for dental implants – exposing the costs involved and how it is they are typically a one-time investment.

By comparing the two it is hoped that more Colorado Springs patients will make the smarter teeth replacement decision, thereby allowing them to (1) save money and (2) maintain an excellent quality of life.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To find out how dental implants – a far more sophisticated teeth replacement solution – can work out to be less expensive than removable dentures, stay tuned for the second installment of this three-part article series.

Everything You Wanted to Know About Dental Implants: A Dentist in Pueblo CO Addresses Your FAQ – 1

This four-part article series provides the answers to the common questions and concerns dental implant patients have about this advanced tooth replacement technology.

Have you been told by your dentist that you will likely need to have one or more of your teeth replaced? Or have you wanted to replace a missing tooth for months or years but have felt too “in the dark” about your options?

Well, you’re in the right place if you want to learn more about dental implants! In this four-part article series, an experienced dentist in Pueblo CO will be answering every FAQ we could get our hands on so that you can march into your dentist’s office equipped with the knowledge to make the smartest tooth replacement decision possible.

Let’s get started with a look at exactly what dental implants are…

FAQ: What are dental implants?

Answer: “Dental implants are essentially titanium tooth roots,” explains the Pueblo dental implant surgeon. “They are inserted in the jawbone where your natural tooth root used to be and they provide very strong and stable support for an artificial replacement tooth.”

FAQ: What prevents the implant from falling out?

Answer: “Dental implants are constructed from titanium metal, which is very strong, lightweight, non-corrosive and bio-compatible.

What happens in the weeks and months following your procedure is that your jawbone actually bonds or knits to the surface of the implant as if it were a part of your body. This healing process is called osseointegration and it’s what enables dental implants to function as non-removable replacement teeth!”

FAQ: How many teeth can I have replaced with dental implants?

Answer: “You can have one tooth replaced or you can have ALL of your teeth replaced with dental implants,” says the Pueblo CO dental implant dentist.

“That’s the great thing about implants – they are incredibly versatile in the variety of tooth loss cases they can treat.”

FAQ: I heard that just one dental implant costs thousands of dollars. If that’s the case, won’t it be hugely expensive replacing all of my teeth?

Answer: “We don’t use 28 dental implants for full mouth reconstruction! That wouldn’t be possible and the risk of complication and infection would be too great, not to mention the enormous expense to the patient. No, if you require a complete set of new teeth, we only need four dental implants per jaw to support a custom-built prosthetic dental bridge. This non-removable bridge will look and function like a complete set of natural teeth and so the expense is a fraction of what you’d expect it to be.”

 

FAQ: Why is dental implant surgery so expensive?

Answer: “In short, the resources, hardware, time, treatment planning and expertise that goes into providing you with new teeth is all costly, so that is reflected by the cost of getting new teeth. But, I don’t think that’s the real issue here,” says the Pueblo dental implant surgeon.

“The REAL question is: why are dental implants more expensive than dentures or dental bridges? The answer to that question is simple… dental implants are the closest thing to having natural teeth again as is possible. Their function, aesthetics and benefits are far superior to those offered by the alternative technologies and they can also last a lifetime if cared for properly. Dental implants are worth the investment, purely because they support a much higher quality of life and self-esteem.”

Stay Tuned for Part 2

Stay tuned for the second installment of this four-part article series to read the answers to more of your frequently asked questions about dental implants

Dental Implants Dentists in Colorado Springs Talk About Dental Implants, PART 2

This two-part article series provides an overview of dental implants as a sophisticated solution to single and multiple missing teeth.

Welcome to the second installment of this article series on dental implants. In Part 1, a dentist in Colorado Springs explained what dental implants are and how it is they biologically fuse with the underlying jawbone and what the placement procedure involves. Now, we shall take a look at some of the amazing benefits of this teeth replacement technology.

Dental Implants Boast Superior Function and Aesthetics

“Once surgically placed, the dental implant itself isn’t visible since it sits beneath the gums,” explains a dental implant surgeon in Colorado Springs. “What is visible is the custom fabricated dental crown or prosthetic bridge the implant is used to provide a sturdy foundation for. This is individually made to perfectly resemble a missing tooth or set of teeth. Even the ceramics the tooth crown is made from mimics the optical properties of real dental enamel, making the replacement tooth virtually indistinguishable from a natural tooth or set of teeth.”

“Furthermore, the fact that dental implants are supported entirely by the jawbone enables the entire tooth replacement device to function like a natural tooth, which enables Colorado Springs residents to bite down with a near normal bite force. Even in cases where patients have had all of their original adult teeth replaced with implants, it’s possible for them to get a strong and healthy bite back thanks to dental implants.”

Dental Implants are Comfortable and Non-Removable

“Unlike traditional dentures, dental implants are non-removable and so they typically feel far more comfortable and natural,” explains a dentist in Colorado Springs. “Dentures, which are bulky and rely on the soft gums for support, tend to go hand-in-hand with a great number and variety of problems and complaints.”

These include:

• Sore, inflamed gums,
• Painful oral sores and ulcers,
• “Denture” breath – halitosis,
• Triggered gag reflex,
• Inability to taste food properly,
• Inability to sense texture and temperature properly,
• The inconvenience of cleaning after meals,
• Needing to take your teeth out at nighttime.

Dental implants offer Colorado Springs residents a far more comfortable and sophisticated solution to missing teeth, whether they have lost one, several or even all of their original adult pearly whites.

Dental Implants Promote Excellent Jawbone Health

Unlike tooth-supported bridges and traditional dentures, dental implants replace the root AND the crown of the teeth. Because of this, they provide the jawbone with the functional stimulation it needs to remain strong and vital.

“Bone is just like muscle in that it requires frequent exercise in order to remain healthy,” explains a dental implant dentist in Colorado Springs. “When teeth are lost and left without treatment, or replaced with technologies that only replace the missing crown, atrophy can cause the underlying jawbone to waste away. This loss of bone volume can expose the roots of the neighboring teeth, leaving them more vulnerable to decay, and it can destabilize the entire dental arch.”

A Final Note on Dental Implants

It’s for all of these reasons that Colorado Springs dentists typically recommend dental implants over and above all other teeth replacement technologies. So, if you have lost one or more of your natural teeth, speak to your dentist about dental implants. The benefits aren’t only cosmetic and functional… they’re also comfortable and go a long way to preserve the health of your jawbone.

General Dentistry Professionals in Colorado Springs Talk about Dental Implants, PART 1

This two-part article series provides an overview of dental implants as a sophisticated solution to single and multiple missing teeth.

Tooth loss is a fairly common problem that can happen as one ages. It’s most frequently the result of conditions such as tooth decay and gum disease – conditions that are caused by neglect for proper oral hygiene, a lack of professional preventative healthcare, a bad diet and habits such as tobacco use. Tooth loss can also be caused by accidental trauma and by certain illnesses. Either way, there are a number of teeth replacement solutions on the market, but the one most highly recommended by general dentistry professionals in Colorado Springs is dental implants.

In this two-part article series, we shall be taking a look at what dental implants are, how they work and what benefits they can offer Colorado Springs residents as functional and cosmetic solution to single and multiple missing teeth.

What Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are the only devices available that actually replace both the root and the crown of the missing tooth. Removable dentures and tooth-supported bridges only replace the visible portion of the tooth structure, the crown, which can cause problems for Colorado Springs residents in the long run. But before we get to the benefits of dental implants, let’s take a look at the anatomy of this fantastic technology:

“Dental implants are artificial ‘tooth roots’ that are manufactured from medical grade titanium. This is then used to support a ceramic tooth crown,” explain Colorado Springs dentists. “Titanium is an exceptionally strong metal and it is also non-corrosive, stable and non-toxic. The composite materials used to make the tooth crown are chosen for durability and strength, so a patient’s replacement tooth has the potential to last several decades if not a lifetime!”

How Do Dental Implants Work?

“Dental implants are manufactured from medical grade titanium metal, which has the unique property of being 100% biocompatible,” say general dentistry professionals in Colorado Springs. “This means that, over the weeks and months following surgery, the jawbone surrounding the implant will actually fuse to it, forming a strong bond that prevents the dental implant from being loose or falling out.”

“Dental implants are surgically placed at a predetermined site in the mouth… usually at the site of the missing tooth or teeth. In the case of whole arch restoration, the positioning of the implants is chosen strategically so that as few implants as possible can be used to provide support for a customized prosthetic dental bridge, which looks like a complete set of teeth and gums,” explain general dentistry professionals in Colorado Springs.

“The procedure itself only takes an hour or more, depending upon what a patient is having done and how many teeth they’re having replaced. Recovery only takes a few days, although you will be required to stick to a diet of soft foods for a few weeks while your jawbone heals.

Stay Tuned for Part 2

To read more about dental implants & about their benefits over other teeth replacement methods, stay tuned for the second Part of this article series, courtesy of Colorado Springs dentists.

Colorado Springs Dentists Explain the Disadvantages of Dentures

This article examines the problems associated with traditional removable dentures and why modern dental implant procedures offer a much better solution to tooth loss.

For years, centuries even, the technology used to replace a mouth full of failing and/or missing teeth was a set of removable artificial teeth. These teeth or dentures were bulky, rested on the gums and relied on their mass and the support of the soft tissue-covered jawbone ridge to remain in the mouth. The result was a technology that enabled patients to eat and speak to a degree, but that came hand-in-hand with a slew of challenges. In this article, Colorado Springs dentists will be explaining to us just why traditional removable dentures should be a technology of the past and why patients who need new teeth should be opting for dental implants.

Denture Downfalls

“One of the biggest problems with dentures is that they rest on the gums, which means that every time you bite down on food, that pressure gets transferred directly to the gums,” explain Colorado Springs dentist. “This might not initially feel too uncomfortable, but after months of the same abuse, the gums can become painful and inflamed. Nasty sores can develop as well and patients find themselves changing their diet to provide relief to their gums.”

The gums are not built to sustain such pressures, which is why dentures tend to cause Colorado Springs residents so much discomfort. But this isn’t where denture problems begin and end. Colorado Springs dentists have received the following common complaints from patient who have had teeth replaced with this archaic method:

• Dentures slip around and can fall out,
• Dentures can have a devastating impact upon self-esteem and social confidence,
• They don’t look or feel natural,
• Patients with dentures struggle to manage a wide variety of foods,
• Dentures do not maintain a healthy jawbone
• Dentures are a hassle to clean and maintain. They need to be taken out after every meal and at nighttime for careful cleaning.
• They require repeat expenses, such as overnight soaking solutions, anesthetic gels, storage containers and adhesive strips,
• Dentures can harbor food and bacteria, leading to “denture halitosis”,
• Dentures require frequent refitting, so Colorado Springs residents are constantly spending money on their replacement teeth.

All of these challenges aside, what comes as the biggest shock is the fact that wearing dentures can shorten Colorado Springs residents’ life expectancy by a staggering 10 years!

“Over time, bite functionality deteriorates as jaw bone volume is lost to atrophy,” explain Colorado Springs dentists. “Consequently, patients are able to manage less and less food at mealtimes. What used to be a pleasure is now a battle with uncomfortable, loose teeth and extremely tender gums. The result of all this is malnourishment. Eventually, a patient’s jawbone can deteriorate to the point where they can only bite down with 6% of the force of a natural, healthy bite. A lack of proper nutrition can shorten life expectancy quite considerably.”

What’s the Alternative?

The fact is dentures simply don’t offer Colorado Springs residents the functionality, aesthetics and comfort that the modern alternative, dental implants, do. And yet, patients still choose dentures as their teeth replacement solution, allowing a concern for cost to take center stage in the decision making process. Dental implants are a far more sophisticated, comfortable, functional, aesthetic and long-lasting solution to rampant tooth loss and edentulism (not having any natural teeth). They’re also more cost effective in the long run, so speak to your Colorado Springs dentist about your teeth replacement options and ditch the dentures!